Coffee Republic: chief executive resigns

10 July, 2008

Coffee Republic’s chief executive Steven Bartlett is to stand down at the company’s forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

The coffee bar chain's current executive chairman, Peter Breach, will take over the role temporarily while a permanent replacement is found.Bartlett will remain on Coffee Republic's board in a non-executive role. It is expected that he will be appointed vice-chairman at the AGM, and will continue to hold shares in the company.Bartlett has been chief executive since October 2006, when he set up a shareholder pressure group which helped to oust founder Bobby Hashemi from the company.
In a statement, the company said: “Bartlett has accomplished a notable turnaround and has established Coffee Republic as a major coffee house brand in the UK whilst also establishing the foundation for a strong international brand.”This directorate change will enable Bartlett to dedicate more time to his businesses and family in Plymouth, whilst still providing Coffee Republic with his "expertise and enthusiasm for the brand".